Have you
ever noticed how easy it is to get discouraged?
You can go along in life and everything seems to be going well and then
it hits. It doesn't take much. Many times, it is a little comment from
someone or a thought that derails us. It
seems to come out of nowhere.
We may get
the thoughts that life is just too tough…or thoughts that living the life for
Jesus is just not worth it…or that dealing with all we have to deal with is
beyond what we can bear…we may feel that God has given us tasks that are too
much or burdens that are too heavy
I think that
at some time or another, all of us face discouragement. We all struggle with this life. So, what do we do? How do we go on and continue to do what God
has called us to do (or sometimes, just function through another day?)
I want us to
look at 3 different scriptures that help us face discouragement
1 – Let's
start with the Old Testament. What do we
know about Joshua? If we look at
Deuteronomy, we know that Joshua was one of the 12 spies chosen to go over into
the Promised Land to check it out and prepare for battle. We know that it was only him and Caleb who
came back with reports that God was stronger than anything they had
encountered. The people headed the word
of everyone else and didn't go in…God was angry and when they disobediently
tried to go, they were defeated. We know
that Joshua was the understudy of Moses.
Moses was a mighty man of God who was described as a prophet who knew
God face to face. I can imagine very
scary shoes to fill…only Joshua wasn't filling Moses' shoes, he was following
God's direction. We also know that
Joshua was chosen to take these whiny, complaining, disobedient people into the
Promised Land. I am sure that Joshua was
overwhelmed, scared, and possibly discouraged many times with what he was
called to do. What did God tell him? We
know these scriptures because they are so powerful.
Joshua 1:5-9
Did you hear
it? God told Joshua that He would be
with him through it all, He wanted him to be strong and very courageous, and He
wanted him to remember and keep God's Word in front of him at all times. So, that is our step one in overcoming
discouragement. We are to remember that
God is with us, be strong and courageous because He is with us, and to stay in
the Word.
2 – 1 Peter
5:6-7
In this
scripture, we remember that when are discouraged, we come to Him with our
cares. We give them completely to
Him. Pour out your discouragements
before Him. Whatever it is that is
weighing you down, give it to Him.
Remember that He tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is
light. He doesn't want you carrying
around a load of disappointments and discouragements. He wants you to come to Him with all you have
and give it to Him. He wants you to be
honest. He wants you to pour your heart
out to Him and be honest. It isn't like
He doesn't know how you feel already. If
we tell Him about our discouragements and fears, we are lifted from them and we
have room to know that He really does care for us. How great it is that we can bring it all
before Him and pour it out and He still loves us and cares for us.
The choir
song really speaks to that. We have
decisions we have to make…we feel like we are often squeezed from every
side…and we need HIM. Cast your cares
upon Him. He does care for you and for
me. That is part of that amazing love
that we don't have to understand…just be thankful for.
3 –
Colossians 3:16-17
Finally, it
is important as we face discouragement that we surround ourselves with people
of God. It is critical that we come
together as the body of Christ and encourage one another in the faith. This world is too much to face alone. That's why we are the body of Christ and not
the individuals for Christ. We are to
come together as His people. I can't
tell you how much a kind word or encouraging thoughts mean in a difficult
time. Prayers make a
difference…encouragement makes a difference…worship makes a
difference…following God makes a difference….when we do it for the glory of
God.
As we go
through this week, may we not get lost in discouragement, but rather, know that
God is with us…be of strong courage…casting our cares upon Him…and encouraging
one another.
